National Medal of Science

The National Medal of Science, also called the Presidential Medal of Science, is an honor given by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics. The Committee on the National Medal of Science under the National Science Foundation (NSF) is responsible for recommending medal candidates to the President. As of March 14, 2005, there have been 417 recipients of the medal.

History

The National Medal of Science was established on August 25, 1959, by an act of the United States Congress under Public Law 86-209. The medal was originally to honor scientists in the fields of the "physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences." The Committee on the National Medal of Science was established on August 23, 1961 by U.S. President John F. Kennedy through executive order 10961.http://www.nsf.gov/nsf/nmos/nms.htm This committee is administered by the National Science Foundation.

Related Topics:
August 25 - 1959 - United States Congress - August 23 - 1961 - U.S. President John F. Kennedy - Executive order

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On January 7, 1979, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) passed a resolution proposing that the medal be expanded to include the social and behavioral sciences.http://archives.aaas.org/docs/resolutions.php?doc_id=338 In response, Senator Ted Kennedy introduced the Science and Technology Equal Opportunities Act into the Senate on March 7,1979, expanding the medal to include these scientific disciplines as well. President Jimmy Carter's signature enacted this change as Public Law 96-516 on December 12,1980.

Related Topics:
January 7 - 1979 - American Association for the Advancement of Science - Senator Ted Kennedy - Senate - March 7 - President Jimmy Carter's - December 12 - 1980

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In 1992, the National Science Foundation signed a letter of agreement with the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation that made the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation the metaorganization over both the National Medal of Science and the very similar National Medal of Technology.

Related Topics:
1992 - National Science and Technology Medals Foundation - National Medal of Technology

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The first National Medal of Science was awarded on February 18, 1963, for the year 1962 by President John F. Kennedy to Theodore von Kármán for his work at the Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The citation accompanying von Kármán's award reads:

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February 18 - 1963 - 1962 - Theodore von Kármán - Caltech - Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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:For his leadership in the science and engineering basic to aeronautics; for his effective teaching and related contributions in many fields of mechanics, for his distinguished counsel to the Armed Services, and for his promoting international cooperation in science and engineering.http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/awards/nms/recip_details.cfm?recip_id=375

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Although Public Law 86-209 provides for 20 recipients of the medal per year, it is typical for approximately 12-15 accomplished scientists and engineers to receive this distinction each year. There have been 6 years where no National Medals of Science were awarded between 1962 and 2002. Those years were: 1985, 1984, 1980, 1978, 1977, 1972 and 1971. As of March 14, 2005, there have been a total of 417 individuals recognized.

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1985 - 1984 - 1980 - 1978 - 1977 - 1972 - 1971 - March 14 - 2005

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